Petrol prices

Britain ranks tenth in petrol costs

Average petrol prices in Britain have risen by 2.5 percent in the last month, making the UK the tenth most expensive country in the world regarding petrol costs.

Press TV,

19 August, 2012

The Automobile Association (AA) warned the fuel prices could reach a new record high in Britain by the end of August as prices are going up on the European wholesale market.

According to the motoring organization, the cost of unleaded petrol has increased by 3.34 pence per litre from 132.18 to 135.52 pence since July.

The rising fuel costs have made the UK the tenth most expensive country in the world to buy petrol. Motorists in Britain pay more than drivers in Germany or France and double the amount than motorists in the US.

The rise in petrol costs in the UK has resulted in the monthly petrol cost for a two-car family to reach a current £288, compared with £278 in July.

Paul Watters, head of public affairs at the AA, said, “Falling pump prices in the UK lasted just 75 days and now they’re heading up at a rate which once again threatens to undermine the Bank of England’s inflation target. In recent weeks, £10 has been added to the monthly petrol costs of a two-car family in the UK.”

Nothing new here. I remember carpooling from the late 70's.

Carpooling on the rise in NZ

3 News,

20 August, 2012

With several costly solutions to the traffic woes in our major cities being debated, one cheaper alternative is quickly gaining popularity.

Car pooling is being promoted by councils around New Zealand as a way to reduce traffic congestion, beat rising petrol prices and help the environment.

Wellington band The Nudge are big fans of carpooling so much so that they got together with their local council to put a video together.

Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatu, Wellington and Nelson councils have teamed up to bring a number of carpooling initiatives into one new site – letscarpool.govt.nz.

“Carpooling's a numbers game, so it's about getting more people signed up to give more people choices to link in - not only around your city, but also on inter-regional trips, says Auckland Transport's Manager of Community Transport, Matthew Rednall.

The letscarpool site lets users enter the addresses of where they are and where they want to go and comes up with a list of other carpoolers who could provide a ride.

Four thousand people have signed up since the site was launched last month, and those behind it say that's because there are lots of benefits to carpooling.

“If we can get 350 people a week out of the car, their private car and carpooling with colleagues or friends then we can save about $2.5 million a week in congestion savings,” says Mr Rednall.

Rednall says those savings come from having more efficient transport and lower carbon emissions.

According to Jayride.com - a ridesharing site with over 12,000 members in New Zealand and Australia - carpooling's popularity is growing quickly in New Zealand

Councils are keen to do their bit to encourage more users. In Auckland cars with multiple occupants are allowed to travel in their own lanes, while in Nelson, there are free parks reserved for registered carpoolers in the CBD.

And there is an additional social benefit to carpooling as well.

“Meeting people's a necessary thing in life and I mean if you can't do it sitting next to them in a car then you've probably got a problem. If you're able to, give it a go,” says The Nudge’s drummer Iraia Whakamoe.

In Auckland's North Shore 1300 businesses are signed up to a carpooling initiative. Letscarpool hopes the number of businesses who encourage staff to share rides with colleagues will continue to increase as the number of cars on the road goes down.